Troubling timber sales,

new proposed forest fees, and the lame-duck session of Congress

Gary Macfarlane

KudostotheNezPerceTribeforfilingsuitontheClearCreekTimberSale.TheresultwastheForestServicewithdrewthedecision.Asreported inpastDefenders, the ClearCreekTimberSalewasaso-calledcollaborativeef-fort from theClearwaterBasinCollaborativewhose goalis to “significantly increase” logging on the Nez Perceand Clearwater National Forests. Our newsletters havealsodocumentedseriousproblemswithhowcollaborativegroupsmayhelpfacilitatecircumventionofenvironmentalandpublicinvolvementlaws.FOCwaspreparedtolitigatewhentheForestServicewithdrewtheClearCreekdecision. AccordingtoanarticleonAugust20,2016,writ-tenbyEricBarker of theLewiston Morning Tribune, the ClearCreekenvironmentaldocumentation,“includedfaultysedimentanalysisthatwillrequiretheagencytoconductasupplemental environmental impact statement,whichwilltake about ayear to complete.”Thearticle furthernoted,“She{ForestSupervisorCherylProbert}saidagencyoffi-cialsreviewingtheprojectfoundsomeerrorsinacomputermodelusedtoestimatetheamountofsedimentthatcouldleachintostreamsfromtheloggingandrestorationwork.” Thebackstory is the faults in thesedimentmodelapparentlyoccurredwhenthemodelwastransferredfromanoldprogramintoaspreadsheetformatafewyearsago.Theupshotisthemodelwaschangedsoitunderrepresent-edsedimentfromroadsandroadcutsandoverrepresentedsedimentreductionmeasures.IndiscussionsthatFriendsoftheClearwaterhadwithForestServicepersonnel,weweretoldthesefaultsappeartobeinadvertenterrorsmadeduringthetransfer. The Forest Service has made corrections to themodelonrecentsalvagesales.Weweretoldthesalesweregreatlyreducedinsizebecauseofthereconfiguredspread-sheet sediment model and the concerns raised by FOCand others.Thiswas a better result thanwhatwas origi-nallyplanned.However,thereareothersalesthathavebeenloggedwhichhavebeenmoredamagingthantheenviron-mental documentation had claimed.The agency needs toaddress and recognize the cumulative impacts from thisproblem.

WhethertheForestServicemakesanysubstantivechangestotheClearCreeksaleasaresultofthenewmodelremainstobeseen.Wewillkeepfollowingthisissue. FOCfiledalawsuitagainsttheOrograndeTimberSale.ThissalewouldbuildroadsandloginaninventoriedroadlessareathatcouldbeanadditiontotheGospel-HumpWilderness.Our lawsuit challenges the roadless analysis.TheForestService allegesno real impactsonwildernesscharacterorroadlesscharacterisitcs.Yetpasttimbersales,including those thatwere done via helicopter,which hadlessofanimpactwerejudgedbytheForestServicetohavesignificantimpactafter-the-fact.BecausetheForestServicehasbeensoinconsistentinitsanalysisofimpactsinroad-lessareasinrecentyears,wefeltthislawsuitwasnecessaryinourefforttoprotectundevelopedareas.

Clearwater DefenderNews of the Big Wild

A Publication of Issued Quarterly Friends of the Clearwater fall 2016, no.3

FOC File Photo

See forest fees page 4

A look into the West Fork Crooked Roadless Area. The Orogrande Timber Sale would partially log in the

roadless area, just outside the view of this picture.

Page 2 fall 2016

The Clearwater Defenderis a publication of:

Friends of the ClearwaterP.O.Box9241,Moscow,Idaho83843208-882-9755foc@friendsoftheclearwater.orgwww.friendsoftheclearwater.org Friends of the Clearwater, a recognized nonprofitorganization since 1987, defends theClearwaterBioregion’swildlands and biodiversity through a ForestWatch program,litigation,grassrootspublicinvolvement,outreach,andeducation.TheWildClearwaterCountry,thenorthernhalfofcentralIdaho’sBig Wild,containsmanyunprotectedroadlessareasandwildriversandprovidescrucialhabitatforcountless,rare,plantandanimalspecies.Friendsof theClearwaterstrives toprotect theseareas,restore degradedhabitats, preserve viable populations of nativespecies,recognizenationalandinternationalwildlifecorridors,andbringanendtoindustrializationonpubliclands. Friends of the Clearwater is a 501(c)(3) non-profitorganization.All contributions toFriends of theClearwater aretax-deductible. The Clearwater Defender welcomesartworkandarticlespertaining to the protection of theBig Wild.Articles in theClearwater Defender donotnecessarilyreflecttheviewsofFriendsoftheClearwater.

Board of Directors Chris Norden: President Julian MatthewsHarry Jageman: Vice-President Al Espinosa Steve Paulson: Secretary Lucinda Simpson Eva Hallvik: Treasurer Bill LaVoie Elliott Moffett

Advisory Board Stewart Brandborg Lynne Nelson Ashley Martens Chuck PezeshkiFred Rabe Larry McLaud

Staff MembersEcosystem Defense Director: Gary MacfarlaneEducation & Outreach Director: Brett HaverstickMembership & Development Director: Ashley Lipscomb

PublicationLayout & Design: Brett HaverstickPhotoshop Extraordinaire: Deb AlperinEditor: Gary MacfarlaneCopy Editor: Bill Bonney

Printed on 100% post-consumer, recycled paper made without harmful chlorine bleaching agents. Please

Inside This Issue

page 1 clearwater update

page 3 Support FOC

page 5 lost friend

page 6 free the snake

page 7 public hearings

page 8 annual meeting

page 10 megaload update

page 11 happy birthday

page 12 event calendar

Theauthor,RichardHoward,takesusonawonderfuljourneythroughIdaho,includingpersonalstoriesfromtheOwyheeDesert,theSalmon,SnakeandClearwaterRivers,theWhiteCloudandSawtoothMountainsandtheCityofRocks.Never give Up on the Sagebrush Seaisanentertainingblendofshortfictionandnon-fictionstoriesandpoetry,whichrevealstheauthor’spassionforhawking,fishing,boating,mountaineering,writing,traveling,history,biologyandarchaeology. Quitetheadventurer,andalwayscurious,Mr.Howard’swritingalso takesus to theFirst InternationalCzechFalconryMeet,theChauvetandLascauxcavesofFrance,thePatagoniaMountainsofArgentina,andtheislandsofIndonesia. BelowisapictureofMr.Howard,anativeIdahoan,infrontoftheatlatlexhibithehelpeddevelopfortheIdahoStateNaturalHistoryMuseuminPocatello,Idaho.

Never Give Up on the Sagebrush SeaBook Review by Brett Haverstick

Clearwater Defender Page 3

Happy to support FOCCay & Ron Marquart

Asmostofyouknow,onceyoureachtheageof701/2,youhavetotakeoutacertainportionofyourIRAandpayfederaltaxonit.MywifeandIweresurprisedtofindoutthatwecoulddirectlytransfer,taxfree,upto$100,000peryeartoaneligiblecharity.OurtaxconsultantinformedusthatthisoptioncanbeusedfordistributionsfromIRAs,regardlessofwhethertheownersitemizetheirdeductions.Distributions from employer-sponsored retirement plans,including SIMPLE IRA plans and simplified employeepension(SEP)plans,arenoteligible.Toqualify,thefundsmustbetransferreddirectlybytheIRAtrusteetotheeligiblecharity.Distributed amounts are excluded from the IRAowner’sincome.Nodeductionmaybetakenforthecharitablecontribution. Notall charitiesareeligible.Forexample,donor-advisedfundsandsupportingorganizationsarenoteligiblerecipients.AmountstransferredtoacharityfromanIRAarecountedindeterminingwhethertheownerhasmettheIRA’srequiredminimumdistribution(RMD). Wewere pleased to find out that Friends of theClearwater qualified as an eligible charity and instructedourmoneymanager(ourIRAtrustee)tosendachecktothisamazingconservationorganization.Ifyouare701/2,pleasecontactyourtaxconsultantormoneymanagerandaskifyoucoulddothesame!

Editor’s Note: Friends of the Clearwater is very fortunate to have Ron and Cay as members. Along with financial support, they are both very giving of their time. Ron recently joined staff member Ashley Lipscomb for a program in Missoula, MT. Ron and Cay were also kind enough to host a party earlier this year at their house in Boise in an effort to recruit new members for us. All of the photos on this page were taken by Ron on recent backpacking trips into the Meadow Creek Roadless Area.

Page 4 fall 2016

Fees, the Wreckreation Agenda and Forest Plan Revision

For a few decades, corporate interests have beentryingto turnpublicwildlandsmanagedbytheUSForestServiceandBureauofLandManagementintoacashcowfortherecreationindustry.Sadly,thisprogramiswellonitswaytoprivatizing,marketizingandcommodifyingoutdoorrecreation,amountingtoadisneyficationofnaturesothatitisnolongerwild. Oneof themore important toolswithin industry’sarsenal is expanding the fee programonNationalForestsandpubliclands.WhileitisreasonabletoexpecttheForestService to chargemodest fees for campgrounds thatofferamenities, the trend is toward developingmore primitivecampgrounds into fee sites or charging fees for primitivecamping.Thisisaviciouscycle;moredevelopmentjustifiesmorefees,whichjustifiesmoredevelopment.Aresearchercalledthis the“spiralofexpectation”–theideabeingthemoreyoupay,themoreyouexpect,themoreitcoststomeetthatexpectation,thehigherthefeesmustbeinordertomeetthathigherexpectation.Privatebusinessesbenefitfromtheexpansionofthefeeprogram.About80%ofthemostdevel-opedNationalForestcampgrounds,builtbyUStaxpayers,arenowrunbyprivatecompanies,effectivelymakingthemprivateland.Privatebusinessesdon’tyetruncampgroundsorother recreation siteson theNezPerceandClearwaterNationalForests,butaprivatecompanydoesalltheonlinereservationsandchargesfeesforthattransaction. Thisexpandingfeeprogramisastepinthewrongdirectioninpartbecauseitchangestherelationshipbetweentheagencyandthepublictooneofbusinessandconsumerratherthanpublicserviceandcitizen.Thisisthegoaloftheindustry, tohaveall recreationon theNationalForestsbeamarketableexperience,orpay-to-play,sooutfitters,con-cessionaires,guidesandotherscan“sell”totheconsumingpublicanexpandedrangeofrecreationproducts,goods,ser-vicesandexperiences. Theindustryandtheagencyclaimedtheexpandedfeeprogram(theFeeDemoprogramfirst implemented in1997)wouldincreasetherecreationbudgetandleadtobet-termaintenanceofrecreationsites.Thathasnotproventobethecase.Sadly,thepublicisexpectedtopayhigherpricesforapublicgoodwhileprivateextractiveindustries—graz-ing,miningandlogging—aresubsidizedbyourtaxdollarsonNationalForests. Closely tied to expanding fees is the Forest Ser-vice’sRecreationFacilityAnalysisprogram.Thisprocess,whichsidestepsrequirementsoftheNationalEnvironmen-talPolicyAct,isdesignedtodeterminewhatdevelopedrec-

reationsitesareneeded.TheForestServicehasdecidedtodrastically increase the number of developed sites in twoways:bydeclaringmanydispersedsitesasdeveloped;andby declaring unneeded administrative structures as recre-ationsitesontheNezPerceandClearwaterNationalFor-ests.

Gold Meadows Cabin, Lochsa Face Roadless AreaSelway-Bitterroot Wilderness Addition

FOC File Photo

forest fees cont. page 1

ThemajorproblemwiththeoldadministrativesitesistheyarebeingconvertedtorentalcabinswithoutpublicinvolvementundertheNationalEnvironmentalPolicyAct.Manyofthosecabinsandlookoutsaredeepinroadlessar-eas andmaking them rental siteswould conflictwith thepotentialforfuturewildernessdesignation.Noadministra-tivesitesshouldbechangedtorecreationsitesuntilthefor-estplan isrevised.That is thepropervenuewhere theal-locationofroadlessareasandrecommendedwilderness ismade.PlaceslikeMeadowCreekandotheradditionstotheSelway-BitterrootWilderness,WeitasCreek,andMallard-Larkins could be removed fromwilderness considerationifthisprocessgoesforward.Regardless,theForestServicemustdoaproperanalysisundertheNationalEnvironmentalPolicyActontheimpactsofthischange. TwoorganizationsthatareleadingtheeffortagainstcommodifyingourpubliclandsareWesternSlopeNo-FeeCoalition andWildWilderness.Their respectivewebsitesarewesternslopenofee.organdwildwilderness.org

Clearwater Defender Page 5

Michael Frome (1920 - 2016), author,wildernessadvocate and father of environmental journalism, passedawayrecently.Hewas96.Hewroteover20booksinclud-ingWhose Woods These Are: The Story of the National For-ests(abookIreadasayoungchild),Battle for the Wilder-nessandhisautobiography,Rebel on the Road: And Why I Was Never Neutral. HehadastrongconnectiontotheUniversyofIdahoandMoscow.Hewas avisitingprofessorhereduring the1980s.Hereturnedalittleoveradecadeagotogiveapre-sentationtoapackedcrowd.IalsofondlyrememberatripItookwithhimtoCanyonlandsNationalParkinthemid80s. MichaelhadaparticularlovefornationalparksandWilderness.Oftencalledtheconscienceoftheconservationcommunity,hewasasharpcriticoftheNationalParkSer-viceandotherfederalagencieswhentheyfailedintheirdu-tiestoourpublicwildlands.Healsocalledtheconservationorganizations to task aswell.He had a particular love ofgroupslikeWildernessWatch,WesternLandsProject,WildWilderness and Friends of theClearwater because of oursteadfastsupportforwildcountry.Perhapsthebesttributetohismemeoryisoneofhisquotes:Above all its definitions and uses, Wilderness is sacred space, with sacred powers, the heart of a moral world. Bonvoyage,Michael.

Citizen Monitoring

Thanks to all the FOCmembers and volunteerswho helped partcipate in our monitoring program thispast season.Monitoring helps in our efforts to keep theClearwaterwild.Thisyearseveraltimbersales,proposedsales,andfoottrailsweremonitored.Ifyouareinterestedingoingoutinthefieldandhelpingwiththiseffort,pleasecalltheFOCofficeat208-882-9755.

Suction Dredging Compliance and Travel Plans

Inabitofgoodnews,itappearsthatunlikelastyearthe suction dredgeminers generally followed regulationsthisyearon theSouthForkClearwater, suchas theyare.Nonetheless,suctiondredgingremainsathreattofishandotheraquaticspecies.WeareawaitingonafinaldecisionfromtheBLMonourrequestforreviewbeforeconsideringanylegaloptionswemayhave. Thereisnothingmuchnewtoreportontravelplans.WeareawaitingfinaldecisionsontheNezPerceandpartoftheClearwaterNationalForeststravelplans.TheForestServicealsoannounceditwilldoasupplementalenviron-mentalimpactstatementasaresultoftheFOC,AWRandSierraClublegalvictoryagainsttheClearwatertravelplan.However,duetoagencystaffingproblems,wedon’tknowwhenthatwillbefinalized.

Lame Ducks and Other Potential Disasters

AsreportedinthelastDefender,Congressiscon-sideringaplethoraofbadbills thatprivatizepublic landsin variousways. These range from bills designed by theoutdoorrecreation(wreckreation)industry,tothosebytheloggingindustrytobillsthateffectivelyrepealtheWilder-nessAct.Atthistime,itistooearlytotellwhetheranyofthesebillswouldbeseriouslyconsideredforpassage.Thelame-ducksessionofCongresscouldresultinsomeofthesebadbillsbeingtackedontopiecesoflast-minutefundingorother legislation.Wewillbe sendingoutemailalertsandpostinginformationonthefrontpageofourwebsiteifandwhenthereisanopportunityforcitizenstoweighin.

FOC File Photo

Passing of a friendGary Macfarlane

ThepurposeofthiswritingistoconveymythoughtsandcommentontheFreetheSnakeFlotilla.IamamemberoftheNezPerceTribe.Wecallourselves,Nimiipuuwhichtranslatesto“thepeople.”TheNimiipuuhavelivedinthispartofNorthAmericaformillennia.Wehavesustainedourlifewaysforthousandsofyears. Ijoinedtheseorganizationsbecausetheywillhelpmeandothersgivevoicetotheissueswhicharefacingev-eryonewho lives,works,andplays inNimiipuuCountry,I’llcallitfornow.IamontheBoardofFOCandamthepresident and co-founder ofNimiipuu Protecting the En-vironment (NPtE).NPtE isanon-profitorganization, likeFOC,exceptweare amore recentdevelopment. I appre-ciateFOCbecauseof thegoodwork ithasaccomplishedwhichincludesNezPerceCountry. Iwasgladtohavehelpedtoorganizeandparticipat-edintheFlotillaontheSnakeRiverandatChiefTimothyPark,alsoontheSnakeRiver.MyfamilywasalsoinvolvedintheFlotilla.IwashonoredalsotohaveparticipatedinthiseventasitissoimportantforustoexpressourfeelingsandvaluesabouttheRiverandhowwetreattheRiver,thebio-diversityandecosystemsonandsurroundingtheRivers. AsapeoplewemaybeconsideredtobeRiverPeo-ple.Iamanup-riverNezPerce.Ourpeopleknowwhatthismeans,andreflectstheimportanceweplaceonrightsandresponsibilitiesinvolvedwithprotectionsofandusesoftheRivercorridors.Wetakeourresponsibilitiesveryseriously.WerecentlycompletedastudyconductedbyNPtEandouraffiliatestostudytheusesandimportanceoftheupperRiv-ers,liketheSelwayandLochsa.Thepurposeofthisarticle,however,wasnottocatalogtheimportanceoftheLochsainourculture. TheSnakeRiver also has vital importance to theNimiipuu.Notonlyhas theNimiipuubeenRiverPeople,butwealsoreliedonthebountyithasprovidedmostno-tablyinbeingcentraltotheanadromousfisheries,likethePacificSalmon.TheNimiipuuthroughitsgoverningbod-ies has entered into negotiations and consummatedTrea-tieswith theU.S.ofA.Treatiesareagreementsbetweencountries, andaccording to theU.S.Constitutionare theSupremeLawoftheLand. TheTreatieswiththeU.S.guaranteedthereserva-tionswouldbeapermanenthome land for theNimiipuu,and certain activities would be protected like fishing forSalmon.However, theTreatieshavenotbeenadhered to,andwehaveseensteadydecline in thefisheries runsanda degradation to the environment in and around theRiv-ers tohelpkeepfisheryresourcesstrongandhealthy.The

2nd Annual Free the Snake Flotilla Guest Opinion, Elliott Moffett Nimiipuu Protecting the Environment

page 6 fall 2016

First Nations people paddle a hand-carved canoe at the flotilla Mike Beiser Photo Credit

federalgovernmenthasnotkeptupitsendofthebargain,andtherefore,theNPtE,isseeingtoitthattheTreatiesarerespected,honoredandimplemented. The governing body of the Nez Perce has alsotakenresponsibilitytoprotectfisheriesbyadjudicatingthemanagementof thefisheries.One federal court case, evi-dencedthemisguidedapproachtofisheriesmanagementbyreviewofbiologicalopinionsandresultsofthoseopinionsonfisheries’managementbydeclaringtheyhavebeenlessthansatisfactory,becauseforone,theydidnotconsiderthebreachingofthefourlowerSnakeRiverdams,whichhaveimpededthefisheryruns. Tribal people and allieshave recognized this factforyears,butitisonlyrecentlythatwenowhaveafederalcourtsystemthathasdirectlyputittothefederalagenciestolookatbreachingthedamsasaviablealternativetofish-eries’management. TheFlotillawastogatherlike-mindedactiviststo-gether todevelopand implementstrategies toaccomplishwhatthefederalgovernmenthasfailedtodo:improvetheenvironmentandthereforegiveabetteropportunityforoursalmonbrothersandsisterstosurviveandthrive. I appreciated theworkofNPtE,andall theotherfolks,groupsandorganizationstomakethisyear’sFlotillaasuccess.Nowtheworkcontinuesaswe“switchgears”torev-upourenginestoadvocatefortheremovalorbreachingofthefourlowerSnakeRiverdams.Noalternativeexistswhichwillaccomplishthisgoal.Thefederalandstateagen-cieshavefailedtoimprovethesalmonruns.Therearenoeconomicreasonstokeepintactthedams,whichmakenosense.Itistheheightofcrazinesstoassumethatcontinuingthesamefisheries’managementregimeswillresultindif-ferentsalmonrunimprovements. Wemustactnow.Welooktoworkwiththoselike-mindedindividuals,groups,organizations,companiesandothers who want a cleaner environment, a free runningriver, andhealthierfisheries.Wefind the bestway to ac-complishtheseresultsistobreachthedams.Pleaselookto-wardsFOCandNPtEinternetpostingsforactivitiesmeanttoaccomplishtheseactsforourRiver.

clearwater defender page 7

FederalagenciesintheNorthwestchargedwithprotectingendangeredwildsalmonandsteelheadfromthelethalimpactsoffederaldamsintheColumbiaandSnakeriversareintheprocessofholdingfifteenpublicscopingmeetingsthisfallinWashingtonState,Oregon,IdahoandMontana. Thesemeetingsrepresentthefirstphaseofacourt-ordered review under the National Environmental PolicyAct (NEPA)of salmon restoration alternatives in theCo-lumbia and Snake Rivers. This spring, the U.S. DistrictCourt in Portland,OR. issued a strongly-worded opinionthatfoundtheagencies’latestplaninadequateandillegal--inviolationofboththeEndangeredSpeciesActandNEPA. This is the fifth plan to be ruled illegal by threejudges across twenty years. The judge admonished theagenciesfordraggingtheirfeetfortwentyyearsongettingalegalplanimplemented,forfailingtoaddresstheimpactsof climate change and forbasing their planonunreliable

A citizen walking in uninformed would have noideathesehearingsareoccurringbecauseajudgeorderedthemandbecausetheagencieshavefailedattheirjobtore-storewildsalmon.Youwouldneverknowthatdamremovalwasonthetable.This is why we need you to show up and be heard! Toget thepublic’svoiceheardweareorganizingevents around themeetings. For the Spokane hearingwewillhavearallyandpressconferenceattheHowardStreetFountainat3:30andthenwalkuptothehearingatthehis-toricDavenport.Conservationandfishinggroupsarehost-ingasalmoncelebrationatthePostStreetAleHouseacrossfrom the hotel from 6:00 – 8:00where people can learnmoreaboutwhatdamremovalwouldbringourregion.Formoreinformationcontactmeatsam@wildsalmon.org ComeearlytotheLewistonhearingattheRedLionHotelfora4:00pmpressconferenceandrally.Afterwalk-ingthroughtheagencies’meeting,visitfishingandconser-vationgroupsinthePort2ConferenceRoominthemainhotellobbyandgettherealfacts.Wewillhavehistoricpho-tosof the free-flowing river, renditionsofwhat theLew-istonwaterfrontcould look likewitha free-flowing river,andinformationtables.FormoreinfocontactBrettatfoc@friendsoftheclearwater.org.Let’sFreetheSnake!

Speak out for wild salmon & steelhead Guest Opinion, Sam Mace

Save Our Wild Salmon

habitatmitigationprojectsandstronglyurged them to in-cluderemovalofthelowerSnakeRiverdamsasoneoftheiralternatives. We need to push the agencies to choose dam re-moval as the preferred alternative.AttendingameetingnearyouandgettingcommentsinbeforeJanuary17iscriti-cal.Unfortunately,theagencieshavebeengivenuntil2020tocomeupwiththeirdraftplan.Salmonadvocatesneedtokeepthepressureonelectedleaderstolaythegroundworkfordamremovalandmovemorequickly. Upcoming scoping include Spokane and Lewis-tononNovember14and16from4:00-7:00pm.Ahear-ing is scheduled in Boise on November 29. Please visitfreethesnake.com/actiontolearnaboutthedateandlocationofotherscheduledhearings. Iwon’t lie-- thefederalagencieshavenotsetupthemeetingstotrulyengagethepublicorbeupfrontastowhat’satstake.Themeetingsaresetupwithplacardsandinformationstationswhereyoucanaskquestions.Acouplecomputers and a stenographer are provided to take com-ment.

FOC Photo Credit

Richard Howard Photo Credit

2nd Annual Free the Snake Flotilla Mike Beiser Photo Credit

page 8 fall 2016

Many folks had the distinguished opportunity toshare theGreat Room of the 1912Centerwith powerfullandandwaterprotectorsatFriendsoftheClearwater’sAn-nualMeetingandGatheringthispastNovember.Theeventgives us an opportunity to celebrate the collective effortsofmanywhogiveoftheirtimeandknowledgetothemostimportantissuesfacingthenaturalworld. ThisyearwehonoredJanineBlaeloch,formerex-ecutive director ofWesternLandsProject,with theMac-farlanePlankAward.ShesharedabouttheneedtoexposeandstopthesilentlandgrabshappeningacrosstheUnitedStates.Janinesharedeffectivetoolstohaltlandtrades,suchastheUpperLochsaLandExchange,andconnectedFOCwith important policy expertswithin the federal agenciesresponsible for the federal landsprogram.Shealsoadvo-catedforalternativepowersourcestobeestablishedwithinour livingcentersasopposed tobuildingenergy farms insensitiveecosystemsonpublic lands. Thankyou,Janine,forexposingissuesthatflyundertheradar.WesternLandsProjectnowlivesunderWildEarthGuardiansorganization-alumbrella. GaryDorrreceivedourActivistoftheYearawardforhisendlesspressureappliedtostoplarge-scale,destruc-tive projects including theKeystoneXLPipeline and theDakotaAccessPipeline.HeremindedusonceGrandmoth-er Water iscompromisedbytheBlack Snakeweavingun-der-andover-ground,peoplewillbeonthemoveinsearchofmorecleanwater.Thesearenationalissuesthataffectusall.Thankyou,Gary,forsharingwaysweshouldworkto-gethertosupportindigenouscommunitiesonthefrontlines.Humanandecosystemviolationsshouldnevergounchal-lenged. TheWesternSlopeNo-FeeCoalitionreceivedourConservationGroupoftheYearawardforstayingontopof“pay-to-play”initiativesonpubliclandsfromanon-parti-sanviewpoint.We’vebeenwitnessingtheseproposedfeescropupthroughtheadministrativeprocessforquitesometimeasfederalagenciesfeelthepressurefromdiminishingfundingfromthegovernment.Thiscouldultimatelyleadtotheprivatizationofpubliclands.ThankstoKittyBenzarforstrengtheningourstanceasweseethisissuerearingitsheadontheNezPerceandClearwaterNationalForests. Andahuge thankyou toeveryonewhoprovidedadeliciousdishtoshareforthepotluck,bidonsilentauc-tionitems,andaddedlivelyconversationtothegathering.WeareespeciallygratefultothosewhodecoratedtheGreatRoom,washedaloadofdishes,andhelpedusputanothergreatAnnualMeetingandGatheringinthebooks!

FOC Annual Meeting & GatheringAshley Lipscomb Thank you for a great silent auction!

(Apologies if we left anyone out)

KenworthyPerformingArtsCentre,Allegra,Tye-DyeEverything,HyperspudSports,Glassphemy,BrusedBooks,CowgirlChocolates,PalouseBi-cycleCollective,WackADoos,Hodgin’s,Mikey’sGyros,LaCasaLopez,Peck’sShoeClinic,Para-diseRidgeCD’s&Tapes,TinyCrowFraming,OneWorldCafe,PalouseOcularium,BuytheDozenDonuts,ReadItAgain,Winger’s,LamadridMexicanRestaurant,HowardHughesVideo,MaialinaPizzeriaNapoletana,MoscowYogaCen-ter,ErikStauber,MollyKlingler,DianeAlbright,BelindaRhodes,SanjaRoje,JuleneEwert,KarenShumaker,TimHatten,TeresaBaker,AntoneHol-mquist,RichardHoward,BobbiKelly,AlisonMeyer,KellyKingsland,MikeBeiser,DavidHall,MattKitterman,Mike&DebAlperin,Laurene Sorensen,RifkaHelton,NorthwestRiverSupply,LastFrontierPizzaCo.

Thank you Janine Blaeloch for decades of great work!

Thanks for another successful year in protecting Clearwater Country!

FOC File Photos

clearwater defender page 9

FOC is very thankful for the support of the following

charitable foundations:

LonghillFoundationTheMakiFoundationNew-LandFoundationHornFamilyFoundationLeiterFamilyFoundationClifBarFamilyFoundationNorcrossWildlifeFoundation

LatahCountyCommunityFoundationRobertL.CrowellCharitableFund

CommunityFoundationofNewJersey

FriendsoftheClearwaterisfortunatetoparticipateinthe8thAnnualAlternativeGivingMarketofthePalouse!Weareofferingthebelowgiftcards.AllproceedssupportFOCprogramming.

$5.00 Protect watersheds and water quality in the Clearwater Basin

$10.00 Protect old growth forests from being logged in the Clearwater Basin

$10.00 Protect wolverine habitat in the Clearwater Basin

$20.00 Keep megaloads from traveling on Highway 12 in the Clearwater Basin

$ (Any Amount) Remove the four lower Snake River dams and restore wild salmon populations to the Clearwater Basin

Besidesthemaingift-givingeventonThursdayDe-cember1atthe1912CenterinMoscow,youcanalsopur-chasegiftcardsattheWinerMarketonSaturdayDecember3andDecember10between10:00-2:00pmat the1912Center,whichislocatedat412E.ThirdStreet.YoucanalsosupportFOCandothernon-profitsaround thePalousebypurchasingagift cardon-lineat agmpalouse.orgbetweenNovember25-December10. Thankyoutoall thevolunteers thatmaketheAl-ternativeGivingMarketofthePalousepossible,andthankyouforconsideringsupportingFOCthisholidayseason!

FOC File Photo

Big thank you to Henry C. & the Willards!

Forthepasttwoyears,oneofMoscow’sbestlocalbands,HenryC.&theWillards,haveplayedaHalloweenbenefitconcertforFriendsoftheClearwater.WewanttothankHenry,Jeanne,Doug,DonnaandNelsforsacrificingtheirtime,energyandtalenttosupportourworktoprotectthe spectacular wildlands of the Clearwater Basin. Thisyear’sHalloweenconcertat theAmericanLegionCabinwasalotoffun!Thankyoutoeveryonethatattended! HenryC.&theWillardsalsoplayedatthe2016Free the Snake Flotilla, alongwith the Smackout Pack,which is from Spokane,WA. FOC and others from theconservationcommunityaregratefulandfortunatetohavemusiciansthathelpuskeepitwild.Yourock!

page 10 fall 2016

OnSeptember7,theIdahoTransportationDepart-ment(ITD)issuedanewsreleasestatingthattherewouldbeapublichearinglaterthatmonthtogatherfeedbackonaproposedstaterulethatwould“regulate”futuremegaloadstraveling through theNezPercehomelandand the scenicHighway12corridor.Acommonreactionwas#&%?! Thestateisproposingthatthe“interimcriteria”of-feredbytheForestServicein2013(theFShaveneverof-ficiallyadoptedthecriteria)willserveasthepermanentreg-ulations that futuremegaloadshipments traveling throughthesceniccorridorwilladhereto.AnymegaloadthatfallswithinthecriteriawouldrequireForestServiceapproval:

• Exceed16feetinwidthor150-feetinlength

• Requirelongerthan12-hourstotravelthroughtheWildandScenicRiverCorridorandNationalForest(thesec-tion ofU.S. 12 that is fromMilepost 74 toMilepost174)

• Require physical modification of the roadway or ad-jacent vegetation to facilitate passage beyond normalhighwaymaintenance

The September public hearing took place at theITD headquarters in Boise, with video-conferencing op-portunitiesateverydepartmentdistrictthroughoutthestate.FriendsoftheClearwaterandotherscarpooledtotheLew-istonDistrict2officetodelivercomments. The hearingwaswell attended in Lewiston,withvariousmembersoftheNezPerceTribeinattendance,aswellasrepresentativesofthePalouseEnvironmentalSus-tainabilityCoaltion,NimiipuuProtectingtheEnvironment,FOCandotherconcernedcitizens.AnemployeeoftheFor-estServiceattended,too.Uponaskingthatindividualifsheintendedondeliveringacomment, she replied tome,no,that theywere attendingmostly for educational purposes-ITDhadnotcontactedtheForestServiceaboutthepro-posedrule! YoumayrecallthatFederalJudgeLynnB.Winmillissuedaninjunctionin2013forplaintiffsNezPerceTribeand IdahoRiversUnited.The court ruled that the ForestServicemustissueaClosureOrderfortheWild&ScenicMiddleForkClearwater&LochsaRivercorridor,andfortheordertoremainineffectuntil theagencycompletedavaluesstudy,andconsultswiththeNezPercetribalgovern-ment.Aswespeak,theclosureorderisstillinplace,con-sultationisongoing,anditisunclearifanadequatestudybytheForestServicehasbeencompleted.Onethingisbla-

Idaho Transportation Department rears its ugly head again

Brett Haverstick

tantlyclear,however.Thestateof Idaho is frustratedwiththecurrentlegalprocess,andthenecessarytimethatittakestosettlethishighlyimportantfederalmatter. Approximately20 individualsdeliveredcommentsviavideo-conferencingatthehearinginLewiston.Acom-missioner for thePortofLewistonwas theonlyperson toexpresssupportfortheproposedstaterule(nosurprise).Ev-ery other comment expressed disappointment, disgust andfrustrationoverthestatewastingtaxpayertimeandmoneytotryandcreatearulethatchangesnothing.Thestatehasnojurisdictionoverthefederalcourtmandate. Citizensalsoexpressedwhat they feltwasacom-pletedisregardof theNezPerceTribeby thestateof Ida-hoforproposingarulewhilecourt-orderedgovernmenttogovernmentconsultationisstilltakingplace.Anindividualpointedoutthatthestatealsoback-handedtheTribeafewyears ago when they issued a permit for OmegaMorganmegaloadstotravelonHighway12,(andthroughtheNez-

PerceReservation), despite the fact that theTribehad re-centlyadoptedaresolutionbanninganysuchloadstotravelthroughtheirland. Themorningof thepublichearing, theNezPerceTribeissuedanewsreleasestatingthattheinjunctiongrant-edbythefederalcourtsisstill inplace,andITD’spro-posed rule “is at this time ineffectual.”The news releasewentontosaythatITDhadmadenoefforttocontacttheTribebeforeunilaterallyproposingthenewrule(yes,that’sright!thestatedidnotcontacttheForestServiceor the Tribe abouttheproposal),andthatthey“stronglydisagreed”withthe state’s assertion that the plaintiffs “have no apparentmotivationtopursuearesolution”tothematter.TheTribealsoreiteratedtheiroppositiontotheClearwaterandLochsaRivercorridorfrombecominganindustrialcorridor. Thankyoutoeveryonethattookthetimetocom-ment on the ridiculous proposal put forth by the state ofIdaho.Wewillkeepyouinformedonthisissueasthesitu-ationdevelops.Pleasevisitourwebsitefortimelyupdates.AnotherthingyoucandoisadvocateforthebreachingofthefourdeadbeatdamsonthelowerSnakeRiver.Nodamsequatestonobarges,which,resultsinnomegaloadsintheClearwater!

Public opposition to megaloads traveling Highway 12 remains fierce FOC File Photo

clearwater defender page 11

TheycamewithTonka-liketruckssayingLookwhatwecando,

HaulthishunkofmetalwithaflipofahydraulicswitchAndsteadilywewillmove.

Butslowyourroll,thisisnottheplaceThefirstofourwildandsceniccorridors

Shouldnotbedevalued,noritsdesignationdisgraced.

Withacourtdecisionstillinconsultationandmediation,ITDisattemptinganadministrativerule,

Merelyforcorporationstomakeapolicyrecommendation.

Commentssoonfloodedinfromgovernments,bigcorporationsandcitizensat-large

WhileNickelBrothers,Emmert,andOmegaMorganvieforpermission,

Tidewateriswaiting,readytobarge.

Anoverwhelming“NOMeansNo”cannotbeignored,Withonefalsemove,howcoulditberestored?

Ifanover-legalloadcrossestheunforgivingfogline,Ourecosystemswillimmediatelybearthecost,

Butimaginewhatwillbelostinthelargertimeline.

Makethe2013Omega-load,Thelastandtheend.

Ourcommunitycelebratedthe90thbirthdayofDr.FredRabe onSaturdayOctober 22.Over fifty people at-tendedalivelypartyattheBestWesterninMoscow.Food,drinks,musicandcamaraderiefilledtheair.Acombinationoffriends,familyandformercolleaguespackedtheroomtohonoragreatindividual,scientistandconservationist. FriendsoftheClearwaterisincrediblyfortunatetohaveworkedwithFredforthepastdecadetoeducateandadvocateforthepermanentprotectionofirreplaceableroad-lessareasfoundintheClearwaterBasin.Together,wehaveproducedbookletsonWeitasCreek,PotMountain,UpperNorthFork,Hoodoo,andtheMallard-Larkins,aswellasapublicationabouttheNorthForkClearwaterdrainage.

Happy Birthday Fred Rabe!Brett Haverstick

FOC File Photo

Wehavealsobeenfortunate toworkwithFred tosubmitproposalsfortheestablishementofResearchNaturalAreas(RNA)ontheNationalForests.AworkshopandfieldtripwithFred in2010 -2011 led to the successfuldesig-nationof theunique49MeadowsasaRNAon the IdahoPanhandleNational Forest.Most recentlywe submitted aproposaltoprotectBimerickMeadowsasaRNAontheNezPerce-Clearwater National Forests. The Forest Service isalsocurrentlyconsideringtheestablishmentofaRNAintheupperportionsoftheHemlockCreekdrainage,whichisanimportanttributaryofWeitasCreek.FredRabeandJuanitaLichthardtcollectedthedataforthatproposalyearsago. AllofusatFriendsoftheClearwaterwishFredaveryhappybirthday,withmanymoretocome!ThankyouforbeingachampionofWildClearwaterCountry!

Consider giving someone a membership to FOC this holiday season!

annual membership is $25.00

friendsoftheclearwater.org/get-involved

includes free subscription to the defender and other important mailings!

An ode to a megaloadAnonymous

Roger Inghram Photo Credit

Borg Hendrickson Graphic

friends of the clearwater calendar of events

lolo pass winter adventure w/palouse - sierra club Saturday February 4, 2017snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, dinner at lochsa lodge wine & wilderness Saturday March 25, 2017 3-course dinner, wines from anderson valley, CA. limited seating, registration required, $65 Per Seat

page 12 fall 2016

NonprofitOrganization

U.S. POSTAGE PAIDPermit #470Moscow, ID

Friends of the Clearwater

P.O. Box 9241

Moscow, Idaho 83843

Hundreds of boaters took to the water for the 2nd Annual Free the Snake Flotilla in Clarkston, Washington with a clear message that it is past time to breach the four lower Snake River dams. Photo Credit Backbone Campaign and The Other 98%